Showing papers in "Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology in 1995"
TL;DR: A measure of motivation toward sport has been developed in French, namely the Echelle de Motivation vis-a-vis les Sports (SMS) as mentioned in this paper, which consists of seven subscales that measure three types of Intrinsic Motivation (IM; IM to Know, IM to Accomplish Things, and IM to Experience Stimulation).
Abstract: A new measure of motivation toward sport has been developed in French, namely the Echelle de Motivation vis-a-vis les Sports. Two studies were conducted to translate and validate this new measure in English. The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) consists of seven subscales that measure three types of Intrinsic Motivation (IM; IM to Know, IM to Accomplish Things, and IM to Experience Stimulation), three forms of regulation for Extrinsic Motivation (Identified, Introjected, and External), and Amotivation. The first study confirmed the factor structure of the scale and revealed a satisfactory level of internal consistency. Correlations among the subscales revealed a simplex pattern confirming the self-determination continuum and the construct validity of the scale. Gender differences were similar to those obtained with the French-Canadian version. The more self-determined forms of motivation were associated with more positive responses on related consequences. In a second study, the SMS was administered on two oc...
1,468 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an expert system approach was used to identify and conceptualize the knowledge of 17 Canadian expert high-performance gymnastic coaches using open-ended questions and various questioning methods to unveil, explore and prove important information about coaching.
Abstract: An expert system approach (Buchanan et al., 1983) was used to identify and conceptualize the knowledge of 17 Canadian expert high-performance gymnastic coaches. The knowledge elicitation process consisted of open-ended questions and various questioning methods to unveil, explore, and prove important information (Patton, 1987; Spradley, 1979) about coaching. All coaches’ interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the unstructured qualitative data were inductively analyzed following the procedures and techniques of grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). The inductive analysis process allowed the meaning units of the interview transcripts to be regrouped into properties, categories, and components. The components emerging from the analysis consisted of (a) competition, (b) training, (c) organization, (d) coach’s personal characteristics, (e) gymnast’s personal characteristics and level of development, and (f) contextual factors. These components were further developed into a model representing coaches’ kno...
487 citations
TL;DR: In this article, confirmatory factor analysis was used as the basis for a new form of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI), which contains seven sport-specific subscales: Coping With Adversity, Peaking Under Pressure, Goal Setting/Mental Preparation, Concentration, Freedom From Worry, Confidence and Achievement Motivation, and Coachability.
Abstract: Confirmatory factor analysis was used as the basis for a new form of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI). The ACSI-28 contains seven sport-specific subscales: Coping With Adversity, Peaking Under Pressure, Goal Setting/Mental Preparation, Concentration, Freedom From Worry, Confidence and Achievement Motivation, and Coachability. The scales can be summed to yield a Personal Coping Resources score, which is assumed to reflect a multifaceted psychological skills construct. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated the factorial validity of the ACSI-28, as the seven subscales conform well to the underlying factor structure for both male and female athletes. Psychometric characteristics are described, and preliminary evidence for construct and predictive validity is presented.
417 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether skilled sports performers' enhanced declarative knowledge base is a by-product of experience or a characteristic of expertise, and found that high-skill players were better at recognizing structured and unstructured trials.
Abstract: This research examined whether skilled sports performers’ enhanced declarative knowledge base is a by-product of experience or a characteristic of expertise. Experienced high-skill (n = 12) and low-skill (n = 12) soccer players and physically disabled spectators (n = 12) were tested on soccer recall, recognition, and anticipation ability. MANCOVA showed that high-skill players demonstrated superior anticipatory performance compared with low-skill players, who in turn were better than physically disabled spectators. ANOVA showed that high-skill players demonstrated superior recall performance on structured trials only. Also, low-skill players were significantly better than physically disabled spectators on the structured trials. MANCOVA showed that high-skill players were better at recognizing structured and unstructured trials. No differences were found between low-skill players and physically disabled spectators. It appears that high-skill players possess a larger and more elaborate declarative knowledge...
278 citations
TL;DR: A meta-analytic review of the literature investigating the effects of goal setting on performance in sport and exercise is presented in this article, showing that setting goals improves sport by 0.34 of a standard deviation.
Abstract: Although the motivational technique of goal setting has consistently and reliably improved performance in industrial psychology research, this beneficial effect has not been clearly demonstrated in the sport domain. The many proposed explanations for this discrepancy have resulted in a controversy in the literature. However, scientists have overlooked the importance of statistical power. A meta-analytic review of the literature investigating the effects of goal setting on performance in sport and exercise could help to clarify the state of knowledge. The meta-analytic procedures described by Hedges and Olkin (1985) were used to statistically combine 36 studies identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Results indicate that, overall, setting goals improves sport by 0.34 of a standard deviation. Moderate, absolute, and combined short- and long-term goals were associated with the greatest effects. Additional moderator variables were identified, and the extent to which they alter the goal setting–performance ...
258 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the effectiveness of a performance versus mastery-oriented teaching program on children's enjoyment, perceived competence, intrinsic motivation, and motor skill development was examined in an organized sports program.
Abstract: Recent research in educational psychology suggests that provision of a mastery motivational climate will maximize enjoyment, perceived competence, and intrinsic motivation in children (Ames, 1992a, 1992b, 1992c). Minimal research has been conducted to test this proposition in the physical domain. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a performance versus mastery oriented teaching program on children’s enjoyment, perceived competence, intrinsic motivation, and motor skill development. Children (N = 119) 8 to 12 years of age were randomly assigned to one of the two programs for 3 weeks during an organized sports program. Results revealed that children in the mastery oriented group reported significantly higher levels of enjoyment and exhibited better motor skills than those in the performance oriented group. In-depth interviews further indicated that children in the mastery program were almost unanimous in reporting high levels of perceived competence and intrinsic motivation, while ...
242 citations
TL;DR: The authors investigated the differences between offensive and defensive personnel of football teams in preferred leadership, perceived leadership, and satisfaction with leadership and found that perceived leadership in training and instruction as well as positive feedback were stronger determinants of satisfaction with leader than either the preferred leadership or the congruence of preferred leadership.
Abstract: This study investigated (a) the differences between the offensive and defensive personnel of football teams in preferred leadership, perceived leadership, and satisfaction with leadership, and (b) the relationships among preferred and perceived leadership, their congruence, and satisfaction with leadership. The study employed hierarchical regression procedures to test the congruence hypothesis derived from the multidimensional model of leadership. The results showed that defensive players preferred and perceived greater amounts of democratic behavior, autocratic behavior, and social support than did offensive players. Also, the congruence of preferred and perceived leadership in the dimension of social support was critical to enhancing member satisfaction. On the other hand, perceived leadership (i.e., the actual behaviors) in training and instruction as well as positive feedback were stronger determinants of satisfaction with leadership than either the preferred leadership or the congruence of preferred ...
231 citations
TL;DR: For example, this article found that subjects who used mental imagery would spend more time practicing a golf putting task and would have higher task specific self-efficacy than control subjects and set higher goals for themselves, had more realistic self-expectations, and adhered more to their training programs outside of the laboratory.
Abstract: It was hypothesized that subjects who used mental imagery would spend more time practicing a golf putting task and would have higher task specific self-efficacy than control subjects. Thirty-nine absolute beginner golfers were randomly assigned to either an imagery treatment condition (performance plus outcome imagery or performance imagery) or a no imagery (control) condition. During the first three sessions all subjects were taught how to putt a golf ball. Imagery treatment subjects also participated in an imagery training program designed specifically for the golf putting task. For the final three sessions, subjects were told that the emphasis of the study was on performance. Subjects in the performance imagery group spent significantly more time practicing the golf putting task than subjects in the control group. Subjects who used imagery also set higher goals for themselves, had more realistic self-expectations, and adhered more to their training programs outside of the laboratory.
145 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined how perceived motivational climate in physical education is related to perceptions of teachers' differential treatment toward high and low achievers, and reported motivation and anxiety during play or exercise with high- or low-ability children.
Abstract: This study examined how perceived motivational climate in physical education is related to (a) perceptions of teachers’ differential treatment toward high and low achievers, (b) reported motivation and anxiety of children with high and low perceived competence during play or exercise with high- or low-ability children. One thousand three hundred ninety-three high school students completed measures of the above variables. The perception of teacher’s differential treatment was positively related to the perception of an environment emphasizing social comparison and negatively related to the perception of a climate emphasizing personal progress. Perceived competence had no effect on intrinsic motivation when extremely high learning goals were adopted. When low learning goals were adopted, motivation decreased for children with low perceived ability playing with high achievers and for children with high perceived ability playing with low achievers. A high learning-oriented climate should be created to enhance ...
140 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of physical and psychological skills as predictors of performance and survival in professional baseball was studied in a sample of 104 minor league baseball players, and the psychological measures were largely uncorrelated with one another and appear to be measuring separate and independent skill domains.
Abstract: The role of physical and psychological skills as predictors of performance and survival in professional baseball was studied in a sample of 104 minor league baseball players. Psychological and physical skills were largely uncorrelated with one another and appear to be measuring separate and independent skill domains. Preseason scores on the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28) and coaches’/managers’ ratings of the same skills on an ACSI Rating Form each accounted for as much performance variance in batting average (approximately 20%) as did physical skills when differences in the latter were statistically controlled, and the psychological measures accounted for substantially more variance in pitchers’ earned run averages than did the expert ratings of physical skills. The psychological skills measures also predicted athletes’ survival in professional baseball 2 and 3 years after they were obtained. Bayesian hit rate anlayses indicated substantially increased survival predictability over simple base ...
139 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the structure of the transtheoretical model (TM) in exercise behavior change among adults age 50-65 years (n = 583) and examined the relationship between stage of change and the constructs of processes of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance.
Abstract: This study examined the structure of the transtheoretical model (TM) in exercise behavior change among adults age 50–65 years (n = 583). The purpose was to examine the relationship between stage of change and the constructs of processes of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance. The results showed that 5 of the 10 processes of change, self-efficacy, and both pros and cons make significant and unique contributions to discrimination between the stages. Specifically, the use of the processes of change was shown to fluctuate across the stages, self-efficacy was shown to increase from precontemplation to maintenance, and the balance between pros and cons was shown to change from precontemplation to maintenance. The similarity of these results to previous literature suggests that the process of behavior change hypothesized within the TM holds across different age groups and cultures. Several implications for intervention design and suggestions for further research are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of perceived competence in the motivation of sport and physical activity is examined by investigating its relationship with goal orientations as hypothesized by Nicholls's theory of achievement motivation.
Abstract: Understanding the role of perceived competence in the motivation of sport and physical activity is an importan1 endeavor. This study attempted to examine the role of perceived competence by (a) investigating its relationship with goal orientations as hypothesized by Nicholls's theory of achievement motivation, and (b) testing a proposed model linking goal orientations and motivated behavior. Students (N = 174) completed questionnaires assessing goal orientations, perceived competence, intrinsic interest, and effort. Regression analyses revealed that task orientation was a good predictor of effort; however, the interaction of ego orientation and perceived competence failed to adequately predict effort. Path analysis results revealed that task goal orientation, but not ego orientation, directly influenced perceived competence, intrinsic interest, and effort. In addition, intrinsic interest played a mediating role between perceived competence and effort and between task goal orientation and effort.
TL;DR: A meta-analysis was conducted on 33 studies comparing the POMS scores of athletes differing in success to estimate the magnitude of the findings as discussed by the authors, which revealed that successful athletes possess a mood profile slightly more positive than less successful athletes.
Abstract: The Profile of Mood States (POMS) is commonly used to measure mental health in athletes. Athletes scoring below norms on scales of tension, depression, confusion, anger, and fatigue, and above norms on vigor, are said to possess a positive profile that graphically depicts an iceberg. However, the predictive power of the iceberg profile has recently been questioned. A meta-analysis was conducted on 33 studies comparing the POMS scores of athletes differing in success to estimate the magnitude of the findings. The overall effect size was calculated to be 0.15. Although this value was significantly different from zero, the amount of variance accounted for was less than 1%. The results suggest that across many different sports and levels of performance, successful athletes possess a mood profile slightly more positive than less successful athletes. However, with such a small and nonrobust effect, the utility of the POMS in predicting athletic success is questionable.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between reported physical activity and optimism and found that high active individuals were significantly more optimistic and less pessimistic than inactive/low active individuals, while the moderately and high active groups reported significantly higher physical self-efficacy and lower trait anxiety than the inactive or low active groups.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between reported physical activity and optimism. A secondary purpose was to determine whether physical self-efficacy and trait anxiety mediate the relationship between exercise and optimism. Participants (N = 188) were administered a battery of questionnaires assessing optimism, pessimism, physical self-efficacy, trait anxiety, and extent and nature of involvement in physical activity. Demographic information was also collected. The results indicated that high active individuals were significantly more optimistic and less pessimistic than inactive/low active individuals. In addition, the moderately and high active groups reported significantly higher physical self-efficacy and lower trait anxiety than the inactive/low active group. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that trait anxiety and physical self-efficacy accounted for significant unique variation in optimism. The findings are consistent with previous research indicating that opti...
TL;DR: A review of the most relevant literature on the psychological responses of injured athletes in light of the philosophical and empirical research into loss and grief in the clinical literature is provided in this article.
Abstract: There is an increasing awareness within the sport-related literature of the importance of psychological factors in the rehabilitation of injured athletes. This awareness and subsequent investigations have led to the proposed application of grief response models to injury. However, to date limited attention has been paid to the clinical psychology literature on grief. The purpose of this paper is to redress this oversight by providing a review of the most relevant literature on the psychological responses of injured athletes in light of the philosophical and empirical research into loss and grief in the clinical literature. As a result of this review, a number of issues are raised for future research into grief models of injury.
TL;DR: A broad cross-section of elite athletes (n = 83) was compared to a normative sample ( n = 2,436) of nonathletes on the 13 self-concept scales for the Self-Description Questionnaire III (SDQIII) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A broad cross-section of elite athletes (n = 83) was compared to a normative sample (n = 2,436) of nonathletes on the 13 self-concept scales for the Self-Description Questionnaire III (SDQIII). On these scales athletes had substantially higher Physical Ability self-concepts than nonathletes, but did not differ on Physical Appearance self-concepts. There were smaller differences favoring athletes on social scales (Same Sex, Opposite Sex, and Parent Relationships), Global Esteem, and the total self-concept. Group differences were not statistically significant for the academic scales (Math, Verbal, Academic, and Problem Solving) and Emotional self-concept, whereas nonathletes had marginally higher Spiritual and Honesty self-concepts. Athlete/nonathlete differences varied somewhat according to gender, generally favoring women athletes. Because the pattern of group differences (e.g., large differences in Physical Ability and minimal differences in Academic self-concept scales) is reasonably similar to a priori...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the effects of goal setting, self-efficacy, competition, and personality on the performance of a sit-up task and found that the main effect of goal level was borderline significant (p <.059).
Abstract: This study investigated the effects of goal setting, self-efficacy, competition, and personality on the performance of a sit-up task. Prior to testing, participants were administered the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (SOQ; Gill & Deeter, 1988). Using a 2 × 2 + 1 design, 60 participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (a) competition, medium goal; (b) competition, high goal; (c) no competition, medium goal; and (d) no competition, high goal. A fifth group from the same population (n = 15) was added and served as the do-best comparison group. The main effect of goal level was borderline significant (p < .059), and this effect was fully mediated by personal goal level and self-efficacy. Also, both the medium and hard goal groups significantly outperformed the do-best group. Competition did not affect performance, personal goals, commitment, or self-efficacy. The SOQ was significantly related to performance, but its effects were fully mediated by personal goals and self-efficacy.
TL;DR: This paper found that condition self-concept was more positively related to exercise than other components of physical selfconcept, and importance ratings of specific components of selfconcept were positively associated with exercise, while there was little support for importance weighted-average or importance discrepancy models in the prediciton of self-esteem, general physical self concept, or exercise behavior.
Abstract: Fox (1990) proposed a personalized hierarchical model of physical self-concept that integrated self-concept and perceived importance ratings, and he developed instruments to measure these constructs. Alternative approaches based on his instruments are evaluated with data from Sonstroem, Harlow, and Josephs’ (1994) study of 216 adult female aerobic dancers and their exercise activity. Consistent with previous research, there was little support for importance weighted-average or importance discrepancy models in the prediciton of self-esteem, general physical self-concept, or exercise behavior. However, condition self-concept was more positively related to exercise than other components of physical self-concept, and importance ratings of specific components of physical self-concept were positively related to exercise. These results support the construct validity of multidimensional physical self-concept responses, the value of specific domains of self-concept most relevant to a particular application rather ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether perceptions of team cohesiveness could be used to predict intention to participate during a following season and found that those intending to return for the next season held significantly greater perceptions of social cohesion.
Abstract: This study examined whether perceptions of team cohesiveness could be used to predict intention to participate during a following season. In Study 1, female participants in recreational ringette teams completed the Group Environment Questionnaire after completing the season. Intention to return for the next season also was assessed via questionnaire. Discriminant function analysis revealed that those intending to return for the next season held significantly greater perceptions of social cohesion. In Study 2, a replication of Study 1 using elite ringette team members, perceptions of social cohesion once again proved to be reliable predictors of intention to participate next season. Elite female athletes who indicated that they would return for another season were most likely to perceive the social cohesiveness with their team as high. Both studies support the conclusion that perceptions of social cohesiveness are positively related to the intention to continue to participate.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the role of regular exercise participation as an intervention for enhancing subjective well-being in an HIV-1 population, and found that both aerobic and weight-training exercise interventions enhanced physical self-efficacy, positive and negative mood, and satisfaction with life.
Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of regular exercise participation as an intervention for enhancing subjective well-being in an HIV-1 population. Specifically, this study investigated the effects of a 12-week exercise intervention on physical self-efficacy, positive and negative mood, and life satisfaction. Participants (N = 33) were randomly assigned to either an aerobic exercise training group (n = 11), a resistance weight-training group (n = 12), or a stretching/flexibility control group (n = 10). Results indicated that both aerobic and weight-training exercise interventions enhanced physical self-efficacy, positive and negative mood, and satisfaction with life. Conversely, control participants experienced declines in each of these variables. Taken together, the findings seem to suggest that exercise may be one therapeutic modality capable of enhancing components of subjective well-being and should be considered a complimentary therapy for treating the psychological and emotiona...
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of a cognitive intervention technique and further examine the anxiety-performance relationship in semiprofessional soccer players were evaluated using intraindividual criteria.
Abstract: The aims of this field-based study were to evaluate the effects of a cognitive intervention technique and to further examine the anxiety–performance relationship in semiprofessional soccer players. Participants completed a composite version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2) 20 minutes before three soccer league matches. Two experimental groups, one suffering from debilitative cognitive anxiety (n = 8), one suffering from debilitative somatic anxiety (n = 8), undertook a 12-week cognitive intervention. Player performances were evaluated using intraindividual criteria. A series of two-way analyses of variance (group and event), with repeated measures on the second factor, indicated significant Group × Event interactions for cognitive anxiety intensity and direction, and somatic anxiety intensity and direction, yet failed to reveal significant interactions or main effects for the performance measures. This study provided partial support for the “matching hypothesis” in that a compatible t...
TL;DR: A number of social cognitive theories applied in the exercise domain hypothesize various social constructs to be important determinants of behavior (e.g., interpersonal behavior, personal investment, planned behavior) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A number of social cognitive theories applied in the exercise domain hypothesize various social constructs to be important determinants of behavior (e.g., interpersonal behavior, personal investment, planned behavior). Social constructs are particularly important in the exercise domain because intervention strategies are often based on changing the social milieu within a group setting (e.g., Carron & Spink, 1993; King & Frederiksen, 1984; Kravitz & Furst, 1991; McAuley, Coumeya, Rudolph, & Lox, 1994; Spink & Carron, 1993; Wankel, Yardley, & Graham, 1985). Moreover, 65% of those who exercise choose to do so in groups rather than alone (Stephens & Craig, 1990). It is not surprising therefore that considerable research has focused on the relationship between group/social constructs and exercise adherence. The three most popular social constructs in the exercise domain have been subjective norm (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980), social support (Weiss, 1974), and cohesion (Carron, 1982). The following is a brief overview of each.
TL;DR: Weidenfeld et al. as discussed by the authors found that active toughening in the form of regular aerobic exercise results in suppressed cortisol in the face of stress or challenge, which in turn enhances psychological functioning.
Abstract: Self-efficacy, or beliefs in situation-specific capabilities, is postulated to play a role in the regulation of psychobiological functioning (Bandura, 1991), with a number of studies demonstrating efficacy cognitions to be related to endocrine, catecholamine, and endogenous opioid systems (Bandura, Cioffi, Taylor, & Brouillard, 1988; Bandura, Taylor, Williams, Mefford, & Barchas, 1985; Weidenfeld et al., 1990). Self-efficacy theory also acknowledges the physiologically and psychologically strengthening effects of mastery over adversity, and Bandura (1991) has suggested that successful coping leads to increased efficacy cognitions and dampened biological stress reactions. Furthermore, Dienstbier (1989) has proposed a model of arousal and physiological toughness that postulates mastery experiences to impact upon physiological and psychological functioning. Specific to the present study is the postulation that active toughening in the form of regular aerobic exercise results in suppressed cortisol in the face of stress or challenge, which in turn enhances psychological functioning. Numerous studies have demonstrated that high levels of plasma and salivary cortisol are associated with negative psychological states such as increased depression and dysphoric mood (e.g., Gold et al., 1986; O'Connor, Morgan, Raglin, Barksdale, & Kalin, 1989). However, only one study has demonstrated that high levels of cortisol are related to low self-efficacy. The study, conducted by Weidenfeld et al. (1990), examined the impact on human immune functioning of experimentally varied self-efficacy in coping with a psychological stressor. As it has been demonstrated that cortisol plays a mediating role in immunologic responses to stressors, Weidenfeld and her colleagues hypothesized that increases in self-efficacy during an efficacy-building process would result in decreased cortisol levels in the face of a phobic stressor. They reported that participants who continued to demonstrate elevated cortisol following the efficacy treatments also reported higher levels of stress, and that as a group cortisol levels decreased dramatically from baseline to the early treatment conditions. More important,
TL;DR: The psychological and social sciences search for laws of human behavior has been seen as an empirical or methodological issue as mentioned in this paper. But the philosophers Donald Davidson and John Searle have each argued that such laws are conceptually impossible.
Abstract: The psychological and social sciences search for laws of human behavior. Traditionally, this search has been seen as an empirical or methodological issue. But the philosophers Donald Davidson and John Searle have each argued that such laws are conceptually impossible. If their views are sound, the search for social or psychological laws is not merely very difficult, it is futile. Their cases against such laws are outlined; however, neither Davidson nor Searle has supported the radical version of his conclusion—that psychological and social sciences cannot be sciences. Some concluding comments on the nature of modem philosophy and philosophical debate are provided.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of self-monitoring (SM) strategies on motor performance of varied difficulty was examined, and it was found that PSM resulted in superior performance in comparison to NSM across trials while performing the difficult task (p <.05).
Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of self-monitoring (SM) strategies on motor performance of varied difficulty. In a pilot test, participants’ perceptions of task difficulty agreed with performance on the easy task. Participants perceived the hard task to be significantly more difficult than indicated by the performance scores and perceived the easy task to be significantly less difficult than their performance on the complex task (p < .05). In the subsequent experiment, subjects performed 90 trials on either the difficult or easy motor task using either positive self-monitoring (PSM), negative self-monitoring (NSM), or no self-monitoring. MANOVAs indicated that PSM resulted in superior performance in comparison to NSM across trials while performing the difficult task (p < .05). In the easy task, PSM was inferior to NSM on motor performance across trials (p < .01). Further results also indicated that negative affect significantly decreased for PSM performing the difficult task, and for ...
TL;DR: The authors found that startle response (an aversive reflex) was enhanced during an unpleasant emotional state and diminished in a pleasant emotional context, and no significant intergroup differences were found in participants' responses to realistic situations (termed vignettes), in evaluation of the anger/provocation inherent in the situation, in the reasons attributed to the "frustrater", or in self-reported intended response.
Abstract: Studies of sport participation that include emotional responses, particularly anger, are frequently flawed because measures consist of associative paper–pencil inventories and archival data. In the present study, startle response (an aversive reflex) was enhanced during an unpleasant emotional state and diminished in a pleasant emotional context. Nonsignificant differences on this dispositional measure between 36 athletes and nonathletes did not replicate findings differing normals and psychopaths (Patrick, Bradley, & Lang, 1993) on emotional responsivity. Similarity was also apparent in experiential aspects of anger responsivity as revealed by the check for differences in attributional style. No significant intergroup differences were found in participants’ responses to realistic situations (termed vignettes), in evaluation of the anger/provocation inherent in the situation, in the reasons attributed to the “frustrater,” or in self-reported intended response. Implications for future sport research on emo...